What Becomes Of Us (An Anthology)

Rare Star - 3

Mae stretched and yawned next to Ethan's bedside. Her head throbbed with what seems like an onset of a headache and her eyelids feel heavy no matter how hard she wanted to open them. She managed to peer through a small crack on her lids that she was able to make and saw Ethan still fast asleep. She checked her watch. "It's almost 9am." That meant a nurse would come in a few minutes.

She hoped Ethan would not be disturbed by the monitoring the nurse will do. Her baby stayed up all night crying. He missed home after two days of staying in the hospital. Although Colleen left him some books and toys, they were not enough to entertain him. He wished for his bike that they couldn't bring to the hospital.

She only caught two hours of sleep in between, watching Ethan; being on her laptop to take care of her online business and on the phone to follow up on payments; and talking to the nurses.

Some of them intriguingly asked how she is related to "Doc Allen" since he spends most of his time in between his patient rounds and consultations in their room bringing food and other treats for her and Ethan.

"We're friends." She would repeatedly say which was responded with giggles and unbelieving eyes.

She even overheard a nurse whisper to another. "Ang pretty naman talaga ni Mommy eh kaya nahumaling tong si Doc Allen."

The other nurse then answered. "Nakakapanibago nga yang si Doc eh sobrang walang pakialam sa babae yan kundi lang dito kay Mommy magdududa na ako eh." Then the two nurses snickered as they finished their tasks and went out of the room.

("Allen is just a really nice guy. Maintriga lang yung mga nurses."} She dismissed.

He would stay for fifteen to thirty minutes to share some stories of his day to Mae. She guessed it was to help keep her mind off the worries she had for Ethan. He also reassured her of her son's situation and commended the child's bravery and her strength.

With his charm and kindness, Ethan instantly took a liking to "Uncle Allen". The doctor insisted for Ethan to call him that instead of Doc to make the child more comfortable having him around. Ethan would now ask for him and had a lot of fun with him.

Mae watched them in amazement as they talked and played like they have known each other for a long time. They got along so well that they even developed secret codes and laughed at her for not getting what they meant.

If she were a stranger passing by and seeing the duo, Allen and Ethan looked like a father and son pair. She overheard the nurses say as much.

"Kaya pala kahit anong pa-cute ni Doctora Elise kay Doc Allen deadma lang kasi may magandang misis at super cute na anak pala siyang tinatago."

A little wish floated around her mind but she pushed it away before it even touched the surface.

("No, Mae, you CAN NOT be thinking about these things. You are crazy to even consider them. He is too good for all these. He deserves more. You can't let him get in this mess.")

And last night, she told Allen just as much.

"Allen, I don't think you should be here. I mean not this way. You can be Ethan's doctor but you can't let him get used to you like this. What if..."

"I'm not going anywhere, Mae." He smiled, answering her unfinished question like he just read her mind.

"Why? Why do you have to be so kind to us? Why do you have to be here like this?" She shook her head. "You've already done too much. I'm sorry if I'm being too forward but I really need to know because I don't know how to handle this anymore. I just found out my son is sick. And his doctor becomes too close to us? What's your agenda? Anong ine-expect mong mangyari?"

Allen looked at her, taken aback by her question and amused by her honesty at the same time. "I understand your concern, Mae. I was just a stranger to you and Ethan two days ago and now I act like the kid's dad. Yes, I heard the rumors but quite frankly I don't care about what they say. I am happy. To answer your question, wala akong agenda, Mae. I don't know what's going to happen. Wala akong ine-expect." He sighed. "It's odd because that was something I feared because I've always had a plan before I do anything in my life. Every little detail is set. You and Ethan came unexpectedly, you caught me off guard and instead of being angry and frustrated like I normally would be, I am actually happy."

He paused, took her hand and looked her straight in the eyes. "Don't worry about me leaving because I am not going anywhere. Don't worry about me because I'm a grown man and I know exactly what I'm getting myself into. I am doing all these because my heart tells me to and for the first time in my life, I am listening to its voice. Me being here with you and Ethan just feels so right like I was made to fit right in. Don't you feel that too?"

Mae bit her lip and nodded. "Sometimes... But I can't let you... I don't have anything to offer you for all this kindness, Allen."

"You don't have to offer me anything, Mae. Just let me be your friend, okay?"

"Okay." She agreed.

***

Yesterday was rough for Ethan after several tests done on him to check for allergies to prevent complications in the next procedure to be done. The Medical Technologists came to get more blood samples and Ethan cried so much every time they pricked him with those needles.

Every piercing sound of his cries felt like a stab to her heart. Everytime Ethan pleaded, "Mama, huwt Ethan. A-stop tusok pwease." was a blow to her chest that shook her to the soul because she couldn't give her baby what he wanted. All she could do was hug him tight and pacify him after the Medical Technologists left.

They also met the cardiologist, Allen's dad, yesterday. Dr. Ricky Reacher is as good looking and kind as his son and Ethan became easily comfortable around him. Doc Ricky, as he preferred to be called, ordered for a doppler echocardiogram to be done on Ethan and after seeing the results, he gave his diagnosis.

"Okay, Mae? Tama?" Doc Ricky started.

"Opo."

"I will try to explain this as simple as possible, iha. If it becomes too complicated, pwede mo naman ako tapikin or si Allen na lang ang magpapaliwanag." He nodded to his son who sat beside Mae in Doc Ricky's office.

"Okay lang po." She responded as she coyly glanced at Allen.

["Allen, ano ba kasing ginagawa mo dito? Baka anong isipin ng Dad mo."]

"Wala naman tayong nakikitang butas sa heart ni Ethan." He explained showing Mae the Echocardiogram results, which she barely understood.

"From what I see his heart is pumping properly although it may be overworked dahil medyo masikip kesa sa normal itong pulmonary valve niya." He paused to point at that part of the heart on the sonogram.

She nodded her head. Her eyebrows furrowed in concern. She bit her lip anxiously and fought back her tears.

"Wha... What can we do for my son, Doc?" She asked in a trembling voice.

Instinctively, Allen reached out his hand and held her cold and shaky hands that rested on her lap. Mae looked up at him and saw a look of genuine concern in his eyes. She felt confused and worried at his affectionate gesture but frankly his touch comforted her so she gave him a little smile to say thanks and turned her attention back to Doc Ricky while Allen remained staring at her.

Ricky watched as his son showered his friend with attention. He initially felt worried for his son but seeing the look of contentment in Allen's eyes as he held Mae's hands made him reconsider. He often wondered when Allen would finally open up his tightly lidded life to a woman. Admittedly though, he had some concern about her complicated situation.

"Ehem..." Ricky cleared his throat to break the silence that filled the room.

Allen and Mae listened to what the doctor had to say.

"What we can do is have Ethan undergo a semi-invasive procedure called Cardiac Catheterization where we inject this small, flexible, hollow tube through an artery or vein in the groin. We will then do a Ventriculography where we inject a radiopaque contrast agent so we can see the heart chambers on an x-ray. Then with that we can proceed with Valvuloplasty to widen the narrowed heart valve opening. All of these will be done in 40-60 minutes. After the procedure, we will keep Ethan for another two days for monitoring. If everything turns out good, you will just be nursing his bruises and discomfort in the area where we inserted the tube."

"Dad is the best in what he does, Mae. Soon, Ethan will be coming home with you as healthy as can be." Allen reassured her.

She nodded.

"Before the procedure, we need to make sure that Ethan is ready so we need to run a few more tests. If everything is good, we can proceed with the catheterization in three days. Meanwhile, my advice is to keep Ethan in the hospital to prepare him for the procedure."

Mae mumbled her agreement and a thank you but her mind already drifted away in worry for Ethan.

She seemed dazed as she got up and walked back to Ethan's room. Her mind was filled with a whole lot of questions. Will her baby's young body be able to take all the tests and procedures that Doc Ricky described? Would it be too painful for him? Would there be complications? Would he cry a lot? Would she be able to comfort him? Would they have enough to pay for all the expenses?

That last question can easily be answered if he called one man but she wouldn't. She couldn't.

Allen walked behind her and saw how worried she was. Without a second thought, he slipped his hand to hold hers and squeezed it as if to tell her that he was just right there for her. Mae did not look at him. She did not say a word, she simply adjusted her palm in his grip to allow their fingers to intertwine, letting him know that she needed him and welcomed the comfort that he was giving her.

Allen smiled despite the stares and whispers of the people that saw them together. In spite of his complicated friendship with Mae, the vagueness of his role in their lives, and what others might think of his affections for them, he knew in his heart that he was right where he should be and he was very happy.

("I may not know where this is all going, Allen, but somehow your presence makes things better. Whatever this is, it feels just right and I will keep it with you as long as you want to.")